Golf tee



E. F. COPP April 3, 1928.

GOLF TEE Filed July 13, 1927 INVENTOR.

TTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES EARL F. COPP, OF MONTCLJAIR, NEW JERSEY.

GOLF TEE.

Application filed July 13, 1927. Serial No. 205,339.

The objects of this invention are to provide a golf tee which while of light, inexpensive construction Will be practically indestructible and unbreakable; which will pack into small space; be conveniently handled and used,not easily lost and which'will not be injurious to the clubs or to the mowers or .other tools used in taking care of the grass.

in the drawing accompanying and forming part of" this specificatlon, a practical commercial embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tee as in actual use.

Figure 2 is a frontor edge view, and

Figure dis a perspective view.

As clearly appears in these several views, the tee is a one piece structure made of flat strip stock and comprising a lower shank portion 1 and an angularly ofiset elbow portion 2 carrying a laterally extending head 3 formed with a substantially spheroidal cup or cavity 4. This cup or cavit is of substantially the curvature of the all and the flat strip material is of sufficient width to make this seat of a transverse extent well capable of sup orting the ball. This spherically shape seat 1s shown in Figure 3 as of greater width on the diameter 5, in the longitudinal plane of the stock than on the diameter 6 at right angles thereto, transversely of the stock. Thus the seat is of less extent on a diametrical line substantially parallel with the fiat plane of the shank. The utility in this is that the ball leaves the seatmore readily in this particular plane. Advantage is taken of this fact by placing the tee with the fiat plane of the shank parallel with the line of flight, as indicated in Figure 1. The end of the seat is shown rounded off at 7, substantially on the spherical curvature of the seat so that there are no protruding corners to be caught by the club in its swing.

The angularly offset elbow 2 brings the center of the ball seat over or substantially over the shank of the tee so that pressure exerted on the head will be effective in forcing the tee into the ground. The edge of the seat depression is indicated at 8 as extending up into the bend 9 connecting the elbow with the head and this provides the the desired stability.

effect of a reinforcing web or corrugation for preventing the head from bending or sagging when pressure is applied thereto.

The stem is shown as having a rounded point 10 which is sharp enough to pierce the earth, but not sharp enough to injure the fingers of the player.

The acute angle provided at 11 between the under side of the head and the inclined elbow acts as a finger-hold by which the tee can be readily handled, a light pressure being sufllcient to grip this portion of the tee over the finger. This is a convenience in locating the tee and prevents it slipping in the fingers when being forced into the earth.

The tee is preferably made of a relatively bright material so as to be readily discernible in the grass. Strip aluminum answers this purpose and is also light, inexpensive and does not injure the clubs or mowers. This stock material also can be worked into the completed form in a single press operation. The on ping of the originally fiat head has a. ri bing eifect, bracing this part of the structure mechanically as well as reinforcing through the working of the metal. It is thus possible when constructed as disclosed to use a relatively light strip aluminum and still have sufficient strength and ri idity. It is ractically impossible to brea the tee with ordinary use and if the tee becomes bent through misuse the same can be readily bent back into shape. The flat stock shape of the device enables the tees to be nested one over the other, so that they can be packed closely in small packages. The flat structure of the shank is also an advantage in packing or carrying the device since this shank can be slipped into a narrow slot, either for carrying or packaging purposes.

The thin stripmaterial can be thrust into the ground with a light push and the width of the strip gives it Sutlicient grip to afford This grip, however, does not impede the swing of the club, even though the tee be forced into the ground further than necessary, because when placed with the flat plane of the strip in line with the swing of the club, the tee will automatically cut itself free.

What is claimed is:

A golf tee comprising a single piece of thin flat strip metal having a straight drivbow to reinforce the head and its connecing Shank, an elbow angled away from the tion with the elbow and the under side of upper end of the straight shank and a head said cupped head forming with the elbow an 10 reversely bent from said elbow over the top acutely angled finger gripping pocket.

5 of the shank and provided with e spherical In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my depression therein, said depression extendsignature. ing to substantially the upper end of the el- EARL F. COPP. 

